Go Back
+ servings

Best Veggie-Bacon Grilled Cheese

Pantry To Table
Give your bacon added flair with The Spice and Tea Exchange (Blowing Rock, NC) spices and sugars, and elevate your grilled cheese sandwiches to WOW!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Brunch, dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 586.23 kcal

Ingredients
  

Onion Obsession Compound Butter:

  • 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Onion Obsession Spice Blend, The Spice and Tea Exchange
  • 2 small pinches kosher or sea salt, or to taste
  • freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste

Onion Bacon:

Roasted Veggies:

  • 3 bell peppers, seeded and sliced into 1 1/2" slices
  • 1 red onion, sliced into wedges
  • 3 poblano peppers, seeded and sliced into 1 1/2" slices
  • 1 zucchini, sliced into 1/2" slices
  • 1 yellow squash, sliced into 1/2" slices
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced into 1/4" slices
  • 2 jalapenos, or other hot peppers, seeded and sliced, optional
  • 2 tablespoons oil (extra-virgin olive oil, olive oil, avocado oil, etc.)
  • bread of choice, I prefer sourdough or a classic French loaf
  • cheese of choice, sliced (I prefer Fontina, Muenster, or Havarti), see Notes

Instructions
 

  • Make the Onion Obsession Compound Butter. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a medium bowl using a hand-held mixer, combine the room temp butter, Onion Obsession Spice, salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Set aside or refrigerate until needed. (If refrigerated, bring to room temperature until just softened enough to spread before using.)
  • Make the Onion-Bacon. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up. Place a wire (cooling) rack over the baking sheet.
  • Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the rack. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the Sweet Onion Sugar, brown sugar, paprika, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper to taste.
  • Sprinkle and press the mixture onto both sides of the bacon slices.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until crispy (or to your preferred doneness).
  • Roast the veggies. Either prepare another large rimmed baking sheet with foil or drain off the bacon grease well and wipe gently from the previously used baking sheet. Be careful; it will be hot. Scatter the vegetables on the baking sheet, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper (or your favorite seasoning).
  • Bake the veggies in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how soft you want them. I bake for 26 minutes. Check the vegetables at 20 minutes for too much browning. Remove them from the oven.
  • Spread a thin layer of the compound butter on one side of each slice of bread. Turn both the bread slices over. Divide the vegetables amongst the sandwiches. Top with cheese, bacon, and the top slice of bread, butter side up.
  • Heat a shallow pan or skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sandwiches (you may need to do this in batches).
  • “Grill” the sandwiches just until lightly golden brown, flip and “grill” them again on the other side until lightly golden brown.
  • Serve while still warm and delicious.

Notes

Cheeses, I use cheeses that melt well and are creamy, but you may use your favorite. Just be sure it complements the other flavors of the sandwich.
You can change up the vegetables. Eggplant, spicy chiles, sliced leeks, etc. will be delicious, too.
Don’t spray the foil on the baking sheet for the bacon. The reason is that if some of the spice mix that goes onto the bacon falls through the rack as you are coating the bacon, you can lift the rack and get the spices (dry) and pat them onto the bacon. Less waste this way.
The nutrition chart does not include bread or cheese. The chart is meant to be a courtesy to you and is only a guesstimate.
 
Nutrition Facts
Best Veggie-Bacon Grilled Cheese
Amount per Serving
Calories
586.23
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
51
g
78
%
Saturated Fat
 
22.42
g
140
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1.93
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
11.87
g
Cholesterol
 
89.39
mg
30
%
Sodium
 
799.95
mg
35
%
Potassium
 
708.6
mg
20
%
Carbohydrates
 
21.23
g
7
%
Fiber
 
4.02
g
17
%
Sugar
 
17.09
g
19
%
Protein
 
15.68
g
31
%
Vitamin A
 
689
IU
14
%
Vitamin C
 
154.62
mg
187
%
Calcium
 
43.38
mg
4
%
Iron
 
2.26
mg
13
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Grilled Cheese, The Spice and Tea Exchange Blowing Rock North Carolina, roasted vegetables, sugar bacon,
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!